So, a bruised finger with the same facts would not be? The facts are the same. This shows the complete lack of logic that now envelops the public. OMG, someone is hurt badly, someone has to be to blame !!! Empathy is a character trait, and good, but not a cause of loss.

This is a typical situation where, because someone is hurt badly, someone must be sued. The plaintiff bar doesn't like the facts, they like the damages. They don't spend hours and hours investigating the facts; they focus on the damages. As John Edwards said in his seminars, "blow them up!" He was the one-man wrecking crew re: cerebral palsy and C-sections. He blamed all kinds of medical problems on birth canal birthing vs. C-sections, including cerebral palsy. So, dozens of OB-GYNs were sued, left the practice of medicine, and C-sections skyrocketed. The result: the rate of cerebral palsy went up, not down. Oops, his bad. Millions of dollars, his bad. Careers wrecked, lives ruined, his bad.

So, he ran for president, brings an injured girl as a prop, severely injured in a pool that met state guidelines. Had to be someone's fault. Can't sue the state, hmm, the pool is insured, it must be their fault. The state then required safety switches that cut the pressure so much the pool chemicals don't work very well. Guess who invested in the switch company? Well, there you go. Hubris, backed and financed by an ignorant public.

I refuse to believe that a frame simply failed by being ridden. Why did the frame fail? That's the issue. Your picture does not say why the frame snapped in half, and neither does the Instagram. I highly doubt it just spontaneously snapped. But, because of grievous injuries, the facts are overlooked. Did the bike hit a guardrail? (in one court case it did, but well, it was made of carbon, so that HAD to be the problem.)

Juries are inherently stupid, that's why lawyers like them. The jury feels sorry for the person who is seriously injured, and that empathy outweighs the facts, nearly every time.

Planes crash, lawyers parachute in. No one has even established cause and the lawsuits are already filed. Someone's dead, it MUST BE THE AIRLINE'S FAULT!!!

Same with smoking. It's been bad from day ONE. Save us from our stupidity!!!!! Save us from personal accountability!!!! Someone got hurt, it HAD TO BE ON PURPOSE!!! If people had to pay out-of-pocket for smoking-related illnesses, sales would drop off very quickly. Self-inflicted injuries. Addictive, yes, and intentionally so. Same with guns. Can't sue the shooter, he/she has no money. It had to be the gun makers. Airbags? We have to have them, they save lives, right? Yep, but injury settlements didn't go down at all, they went up. How can that be? Dragging the American public away from free money is like dragging a pig from the trough, but at least the pig has some dignity, and doesn't squeal as loud.

You think the lawyer lips on front forks are there for any other reason than to overcome the stupidity and negligence of a rider? Nyet, comrade. But still, on nearly every big charity ride I go to, someone leaves their QR's loose. That is in no way a bike seller's fault. But those terrible bike companies; someone should MAKE THEM PAY!

I handled a claim where a Trek Equinox was on a liftgate rack, hit in the rear, and it went through the rear window of the Toyota 4-Runner. After receiving a $5800 "estimate" to replace from the local tri-shop, I found the same bike, brand new, for $2700, in the box. I also went to the shop, and couldn't find any damage on the frame, but I paid for it, because I just didn't trust it. I did, however, swear out a complaint vs. the shop. Imagine that, a shop lying. I decided to visit the shop, and he said "I was just trying to help out our customer." I believe the shop's fine was $5,000. I paid for a new bike, and didn't ask for the salvage parts (all but the frame). As she had a triathlon coming up, I also paid $200 for her to rent a bike from the shop. I just happened to attend that triathlon. Guess what bike she rode in it? You got it, the "damaged" one. Her choice, and if it had assploded mid-ride, it would have been her fault, totally. I'd have been glad to stand over her broken bleeding body and ask "Wow, how does that $2900 feel now?"

Only in America is 1/3 the price of a ladder due to some idiot falling off of it. Only in America is coffee hot. Only in America is 1/3 the price of a can of soda due to some idiot cutting his lip or tongue. Lemmings, go figure.

Oh, carbon? Sure. Steel? That, too. Both good. Both safe. Just use common sense and don't run into stuff.